Reversible cap

ABSTRACT

A reversible cap is disclosed, having a concave crown section of appropriate size to fit the head of a wearer. A flap is attached to the concave crown section allowing a wearer to alter the appearance of the cap.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to the apparel industry. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a reversible cap or thelike for altering the appearance of the cap as desired by the wearer.

[0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0006] Articles of apparel such as caps and the like have long beenknown and used. Typically, they comprise a crown made of a soft andpliable material such as fabric, often sewn together from several piecesof fabric, a brim (visor) made of stiffer material extending forwardlyfrom the lower front of the cap, an opening at the back of the crown,and size-adjusting straps bridging the gap and being adjustable inlength to fit the wearer. A cap may also be fitted, thus, not having anopening in the back of the crown with the size-adjusting straps bridgingthe gap. Alternatively, some caps may have a perforated plastic stripattached to the bottom of one side of the opening in the back of thecrown and extending across the opening. A second notched plastic stripwith notches that correspond to the holes in the perforated plasticstrip is attached to the opposite side of the opening in the back of thecrown. These plastic strips bridge the gap and allow for adjustment inthe circumference of the cap. Further, some caps may also have aheadband along the lower front inside of the crown or along the entirelower periphery of the crown, except, of course, for the opening at theback of the crown. This headband absorbs perspiration from the wearer'shead.

[0007] Reversible caps are also known in the art. Ordinarily, reversiblecaps alter the appearance of the cap design for both functional andaesthetic purposes. For example, a hunter may desire one side of a hatto be camouflaged to allow him to hide in the brush. Alternatively, hemay wish to be clearly seen to avoid being harmed by other hunters inthe area. A reversible cap could be utilized to accomplish both of thesepurposes. Further, some wearers may simply desire alternative designs orlogos on their caps for aesthetic reasons.

[0008] Typically, reversible caps require that the entire crown beturned inside out to reverse the cap which requires the wearer to removethe cap. A major disadvantage encountered by this type of reversible capis that the bill is rigidly formed to fit only one way or must be rebenteach time the cap is reversed. Further, conventional reversible capswhich must be turned inside out require a headband to be placed on boththe inside and outside periphery of the cap or omitted altogether.Finally, conventional reversible caps of this type are cumbersome to usein particular situations when the cap must be removed from the wearer'shead. For example, a hunter may wish to quickly reverse his hat during ahunt to camouflage himself. If he is holding a rifle, he would have toplace it on the ground in order to have both hands available to removehis cap and turn it inside out. This takes additional time and createsadditional distraction which may prevent him from having a successfulhunt.

[0009] Accordingly, there is a need for a reversible cap which can bereversed while still on the wearer's head. There is also a need for areversible cap which does not require the wearer to reshape the bill ofthe cap each time the cap is reversed. Finally, there is a need for areversible cap which allows the wearer to utilize a single headbandregardless of which side of the cap is being worn.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is a primary object of the present invention to provide areversible cap which can be reversed while still on the wearer's head.

[0011] An advantage of the present invention eliminates the need toreshape the brim of the cap each time it is reversed.

[0012] Another advantage of the present invention permits a headband tobe used on the interior of the cap regardless of which side is beingworn.

[0013] A preferred embodiment of the reversible cap thus describedcomprises a concave crown section for covering the head of a wearer anda flap attached to the concave crown section for altering the appearanceof the cap. Another embodiment of the cap further comprises a brimattached to an edge of the crown which extends outwardly from the edgeand is substantially horizontal. In another embodiment of the cap, thecrown section includes an adjustable edge section opposite the brimrelative to a center of the crown for adjusting the cap to accommodatethe head of the wearer when the flap is attached to the outside of thecrown section. The adjustable edge section may include a pair ofinterlocking straps made of velcro. Alternatively, the adjustable edgesection could be comprised of a strap and clamp assembly. In yet anotherembodiment, the adjustable edge section could include a perforated stripwhich interlocks with a corresponding notch strip.

[0014] In another preferred embodiment, the flap may include anadjustable edge section opposite the brim relative to a center of thecrown for adjusting the cap to accommodate the head of the wearer whenthe flap is attached to the inside of the crown section. The adjustableedge section may include a pair of interlocking straps made of velcro.Alternatively, the adjustable edge section may include a strap and clampassembly or a perforated strip which interlocks with a correspondingnotched strip. A headband may be included either along the front inneredge of the crown or along the entire perimeter of the inside edge ofthe crown except, of course, along the adjustable edge section.

[0015] A method of manufacturing the present invention comprises thesteps of forming a concave crown section from a pliable fabric andattaching a flap to the crown section for altering the appearance of thecap. The method may also further comprise the step of attaching a brimto an edge of the crown wherein the brim extends outwardly from the edgeand is substantially horizontal. An additional step involves includingan adjustable edge section in the crown opposite the brim relative tothe center of the crown for adjusting the cap to accommodate the head ofthe wearer when the flap is attached to the outside of the crownsection. This method can further comprise the step of attaching a pairof interlocking straps made of velcro, a strap and clamp assembly, or aperforated strip with interlocking corresponding notched strip to theadjustable edge section.

[0016] Alternatively, yet another method of making the present inventionmay comprise the steps of including an adjustable edge section on theflap opposite the brim relative to a center of the crown for adjustingthe cap to accommodate the head of the wearer when the flap is attachedto the inside of the crown section. Likewise, this method may furtherinclude the step of attaching a pair of interlocking straps made ofvelcro, a strap and clamp assembly or a perforated strip whichinterlocks with a corresponding notched strip to the adjustable edgesection. All of these methods may further comprise the step of attachinga headband to the entire interior perimeter of the crown or flap.Alternatively, the method may involve attaching a headband to only theinside front portion of the crown.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a side view of the reversible cap illustrating the flapattached to the outside of the crown section.

[0018]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the reversible capillustrated in FIG. 1.

[0019]FIG. 3 is a back view of the reversible cap illustrating oneembodiment when the flap is attached to the inside of the crown section.

[0020]FIG. 4 is a back view of the reversible cap illustrating anotherembodiment when the flap is attached to the inside of the crown section.

[0021]FIG. 5 is a back view of the reversible cap illustrating anotherembodiment when the flap is attached to the inside of the crown section.

[0022]FIG. 6. is a back view of the reversible cap illustrated in FIG.1.

[0023]FIG. 7 is an exploded side view of the reversible cap illustratedin FIG. 1.

[0024]FIG. 8 is an exploded side view of the reversible cap illustratedin FIGS. 3, 4 or 5.

[0025]FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the reversible cap illustrated in FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, and 7, a preferred embodiment of thereversible cap (10) of the present invention comprises a concave crownsection (16) for covering the head of a wearer and a flap (14) attachedto the concave crown section (16) for altering the appearance of the cap(10). This embodiment of the cap (10) further comprises a brim (12)attached to an edge (18) of the crown section (16) which extendsoutwardly from the edge (18) and is substantially horizontal.

[0027] As best shown in FIG. 9, the crown section (16) can include anadjustable edge section opposite the brim (12) relative to a center ofthe crown section (16) for adjusting the cap (10) to accommodate thehead of the wearer when the flap (14) is attached to the outside of thecrown section (16). In FIG. 9, the adjustable edge section includes apair of interlocking straps (30 and 32). FIG. 2 and FIG. 9 show that aheadband (22) may be included along the entire perimeter of the insideedge of the crown section (16) except, of course, along the adjustableedge section.

[0028] Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 8, the flap (15) mayinclude an adjustable edge section opposite the brim (12) relative to acenter of the crown section (16) for adjusting the cap (10) toaccommodate the head of the wearer when the flap (15) is attached to theinside of the crown section (16). As shown in FIG. 5, the adjustableedge section may include a pair of velcro interlocking straps (28 and29). Alternatively, the adjustable edge section may include a strap (26)and clamp (27) assembly as shown in FIG. 4 or a perforated strip (24)which interlocks with a corresponding notched strip (23) as shown inFIG. 3.

[0029] As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 9, the method of makingthe preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps offorming a concave crown section (16) from a pliable fabric and attachinga flap (14) to the crown section (16) for altering the appearance of thecap (10). This preferred method further comprises the step of attachinga brim (12) to an edge of the crown section (16) with said brim (12)extending substantially horizontally outwardly from the crown section(16).

[0030] As best illustrated in FIG. 9, an additional step can includeadding an adjustable edge section in the crown section (16) opposite thebrim (12) relative to the center (20) of the crown section (16) foradjusting the cap (10) to accommodate the head of the wearer when theflap (14) is attached to the outside of the crown section (16). FIG. 9also shows that a pair of velcro interlocking straps (30 and 32) canthen be attached to the adjustable edge section. FIG. 2 and FIG. 9 showthat this method may further comprise the step of attaching a headband(22) to the entire interior perimeter of the crown section (16) except,of course, along the adjustable edge section.

[0031] Alternatively, FIG. 8 shows another method of making the presentinvention comprising the steps of including an adjustable edge sectionalong the perimeter of the flap (15) opposite the brim (12) relative tothe center (20) of the crown section (16) for adjusting the cap toaccommodate the head of the wearer when the flap (15) is attached to theinside of the crown section (16). Likewise, this method may furtherinclude the step of attaching a pair of velcro interlocking straps (28and 29) as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 4 illustrates yet another alternativewhich includes the step of adding a strap (26) and clamp (27) assembly.Alternatively, a perforated strip (24) which interlocks with acorresponding notched strip (23) can be attached to the adjustable edgesection as shown in FIG. 3.

[0032] Although the cap (10) and the method of making it have beendescribed in terms of preferred structures and processes, it should beunderstood that various alterations and modifications can be madewithout departing from the invention and that such alterations andmodifications are intended to be considered to be within the scope andspirit of the invention which is defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cap comprising: (a) a concave crown section forcovering the head of a wearer; and (b) a flap attached to the concavecrown section for altering the appearance of the cap.
 2. The cap ofclaim 1 further comprising a brim attached to an edge of the crown, thebrim extending outwardly from the edge and being substantiallyhorizontal.
 3. The cap of claim 2 wherein the crown section includes anadjustable edge section opposite the brim relative to a center of thecrown section for adjusting the cap to accommodate the head of thewearer when the flap is attached to the outside of the crown section. 4.The cap of claim 3 wherein the adjustable edge section includes a pairof interlocking straps made of velcro.
 5. The cap of claim 2 wherein theflap includes an adjustable edge section opposite the brim relative to acenter of the crown for adjusting the cap to accommodate the head of thewearer when the flap is attached to the inside of the crown section. 6.The cap of claim 5 wherein the adjustable edge section includes a pairof interlocking straps made of velcro.
 7. The cap of claim 5 wherein theadjustable edge section includes a strap and clamp assembly.
 8. The capof claim 5 wherein the adjustable edge section includes a perforatedstrip which interlocks with a corresponding notched strip.
 9. A methodof making a cap, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a concave crownsection from a pliable fabric; and (b) attaching a flap to the crownsection for altering the appearance of the cap.
 10. The method of claim9 further comprising the step of attaching a brim to an edge of thecrown section, the brim extending outwardly from the edge and beingsubstantially horizontal.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprisingthe step of forming an adjustable edge section opposite the brimrelative to a center of the crown for adjusting the cap to accommodatethe head of the wearer when the flap is attached to the outside of thecrown.
 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step ofattaching a pair of interlocking straps made of velcro to the adjustableedge section.
 13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step offorming an adjustable edge section opposite the brim relative to acenter of the crown for adjusting the cap to accommodate the head of thewearer when the flap is attached to the inside of the crown.
 14. Themethod of claim 13 further comprising the step of attaching a pair ofinterlocking straps made of velcro to the adjustable edge section. 15.The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of attaching a strapand clamp assembly to the adjustable edge section.
 16. The method ofclaim 13 further comprising the step of attaching a perforated stripwith corresponding notched strip to the adjustable edge section.